Body, Don't Fail Me Now!

Aging Gracefully?

Those who know me have heard me "complain" about God's ultimate practical joke--just about the time you gain some sense and a modicum of wisdom, your body falls apart. 'Tis sad but true. I am 58 years old, and I am loving every minutes of it. Well, most every minute anyway. The first time I climbed a set of stairs and began to hear my knees click, it was jarring. In fact, I was stunned! What new trick is this, I wondered. Then a year or so later the pain set it. All of my joints rebelled at most anything I did. So I began to take Glucosamine Condroitan. After about six weeks, the pain lessened but it is still there, my daily reminder that while my brain still functions like a 25 year old, my body does not. This is just one small example of how my own body, the one I have loved for so many years, has become a traitor. Every day it seems to be something else. The image that comes to mind is a bright marquee filled with hundreds of individual light bulbs. Each night as I pass the marquee, I notice that a few more bulbs have burned out but it isn't always the same bulbs. Here I am in the prime of my life and my body acts like a car that is ready to be sent to the junkyard. I guess this 1948 model needs a little maintenance. So, once again I am making the commitment to do something about it. My role models are those vibrant 100 year old women on the television commercials--the ones you see strolling about with great posture and vitality, strong of both mind and spirit. That's who *I* want to be when I grow up to be 100. So, here's my plan...

VIQUEST!! I will join Viquest and begin simply with a water aerobics class. Take a virtual tour of the Viquest facilities: http://www.uhseast.com/viquest_body.cfm?id=842&oTopID=343.] They offer assistance in just about any area you need; there are dieticians, rehabilitation services, personal trainers, nurses, doctors, etc. I believe Viquest is an offshoot of the East Carolina University Medical School.

When I moved to Greenville in 2004, I hired a personal trainer. It was a disaster. This young guy worked me so hard that I'd throw up and get migraines. When I suggested he go easier on me he responded that I wasn't trying hard enough. He then went on on to say that he had an 80 year old woman client who could work rings around me. That was certainly encouraging. One day, when I left the gym and threw up, I also threw in the towel. Since then, I have made sporadic attempts to become fitter. I guess it won't do me much good if my brain lasts to 100 but my body does not.

Water aerobics, here I come!